Rochester blues fest block party was way cool

T.J. Wheeler and The Smokers belt out a blues tune during Rochester's Second Annual Blues Festival at the Cocheco Riverwalk on North Main Street on Saturday. More pictures below. (Harrison Thorp photos)

ROCHESTER - People were happy getting the blues in Rochester yesterday.

Despite blistering temperatures, high humidity and the threat of severe thunderstorms, well over a thousand people thronged North Main Street and the Cocheco Riverwalk on Saturday as the city put on its Second Annual Blues Festival.

“The event is building momentum,” said Michael Provost, executive director of Main Street Rochester.

Folks who attended seemed to agree and loved the event’s new setting.

“I love the new venue,” said Judy Lanzilli of Rochester, who had come down to see her friend, jazz singer and Rochester native Linda Pouliot perform in the morning. “It’s nice here; you get a breeze off the river.”

Musicians seemed happy with the new locale and river breezes, too, often commenting as much while mopping their brow when a gust blew through between songs.

Last year’s inaugural festival was held on Hanson Street, which didn’t afford the same amount of breeze or shade trees, which festivalgoers took advantage of, leaving scores of seats set up in front of the stage mostly empty throughout the day.

Meanwhile, North Main Street was blocked off for street booths from local restaurants, merchants and groups, including Happy Times Squares, which held a demonstration between blues artists to show some of their moves to an appreciative crowd.

There were also plenty of food booths, including a special barbecue cookoff with festivalgoers able to sample chicken, pulled pork, ribs and brisket for just $5.

Some of the local eateries competing included The Governor’s Inn, Lilac City Grill and Happy Pappy’s.

Other booths included TD Banknorth, Seacoast Roller Derby, Happy Times Squares, Meats Jerky, Ms Renda’s Artwork, Leone, McDonnell & Roberts CPAs and Sun Tan City.

But on this day, during what is expected to become one of Rochester’s pre-eminent annual events, it was all about the music. Which was outstanding.

Among the highlights were Rochester’s own Pouliot closing out her set with an Etta James classic, a soulful Joel Glenn Wixson performing many of his original works and T.J. Wheeler and the Smokers, as superb as ever, headlining the show with all of their fan favorites.

Wixson, who performed just before T.J., paid homage to the Seacoast blues legend.

“It is an honor to be playing before you, sir,” he said to Wheeler, resplendent in his white, linen suit and signature hard-brimmed straw hat.

Dancing Madly Backwards closed out the daylong event.

The fest saw no arrests or other incidents, according to Provost, who added traffic concerns some had had with the North Main Street closure never materialized.

It appears the Rochester Blue Festival has found a permanent home, to the delight of all.